Pet Grooming Orange County

Flea Treatment – Keeping Your Pet Safe

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It seems like fleas have been worse than ever this year. Unfortunately, this warm weather is expected to last well into November, making flea season especially long.

Many Orange County families struggle to control fleas on their pets and in their homes. Flea products can be expensive, and traveling to and from the vet every month isn’t always an option for today’s busy family. It can be tempting to opt for grocery store options in an effort to save both time and money. However, many over the counter flea products can be dangerous for your pet.

Flea Shampoo

Despite their harmless appearance, flea shampoos often contain harsh chemicals, which can be harmful to your pet. In fact, the insecticides in flea shampoo have poisoned several pets.

Symptoms of insecticide poisoning include seizures, difficulty walking, dilated pupils, extreme sleepiness, decreased heart rate, vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, it’s crucial that you get them to their veterinarian as soon as possible.

Spot Treatment

There are numerous over the counter spot treatment products available today. These products are applied once a month to the base of the neck. While Frontline and Advantage are generally safe to use, the products provided by other companies have caused severe reactions in several pets.

Spot treatments are responsible for 80% of all deaths related to flea treatment. Reactions can come on suddenly, even if you’ve used over the counter spot treatments before. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Talk to your veterinarian about safer options for your pet.

Flea Collars

Flea collars used to be the flea treatment of choice for families everywhere. Today, we have better options and know more about the harmful effects of these products.

Flea collars can cause severe allergic reaction. These collars supply a constant stream of insecticides, which can leach into your pet’s skin causing neurological issues and even death.

If you are having difficulty dealing with fleas, it’s important to speak with your veterinarian about safe treatment options. It’s also important to treat your home to prevent fleas from re-infecting your pet.

Please contact us at 714-962-1005 to discuss your flea treatment options with one of our experienced groomers.

Choosing a Groomer

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Choosing a Groomer

From mobile grooming, to grooming salons, and bathing at home, you have many options when it comes to grooming your pet. It can be difficult to figure out which choice is best.

Grooming Your Pet At Home

Grooming your pet at home can be difficult. Most pets don’t like to be bathed, and they may behave worse for their family. Also, improper grooming such as not rinsing properly or not releasing the anal glands can lead to problems for your pet.

Using the wrong shampoo can irritate your pet’s skin. If you do decide to bathe your pet at home, never use human shampoo, even baby shampoo. 

Mobile Grooming

Mobile grooming is another popular option. However, there are no regulations on mobile groomers and many are inexperienced and overworked.

The owners of many popular mobile grooming services do not provide adequate training for their groomers. Since their groomer’s earnings are based on the number of pets they groom, they will often take on more than they can handle. This can affect the quality of service and the level of safety they are able to provide.

Grooming Salon

A grooming salon is a physical location where you can meet your groomer and actually see them working with other pets. The right salon will have experienced groomers, each able to provide a variety of services.

Bringing your pet to the grooming salon should be an enjoyable experience. The groomers should take the time to answer all your questions and properly care for your pet. Never choose a grooming salon that takes an assembly line approach to grooming.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has provided pet grooming to numerous pets in our Orange County community for over fifteen years. Our groomers have extensive experience providing grooming for both dogs and cats. We’ve even had the unique opportunity to work with exotic pets such as guinea pigs and rabbits.

Please stop by our salon to meet our groomers and learn about the services we offer. While here, you’ll be able to see the love and care we provide each and every pet that walks through our door. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.

 

Should Your Dog Be Allowed in Your Pool?

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Should Your Dog Be Allowed in Your Pool?

Temperatures have been at an all time high in Southern California. If you are one of many lucky Orange County residents with access to a swimming pool, you might have wondered whether or not your dog would enjoy going for a swim.

Swimming is excellent exercise for both people and dogs, and it can provide a welcome relief from the scorching heat. Before allowing your dog in your swimming pool, there are a few things you need to consider.

Safety

Pets and wild animals can easily fall into your swimming pool. Once inside, they might not be able to find a way out. Unfortunately, animals die in backyard swimming pools all the time. It’s crucial that your pet is not permitted alone around your pool.

Safety gates and fences provide an effective way to keep animals from entering your pool without permission.

Cleanliness

No matter how clean you think your dog might be, they will still bring about three times more dirt and bacteria into your pool than the average person. When dogs swim, they leave behind fecal matter, insects, body oils, hair, and more. Unless you have an industrial strength filter, this contamination can stay in your pool for a very long time.

Contamination in your pool increases the chance of spreading disease. Contaminated water can lead to diarrhea as well as infections of the skin, ears, and upper respiratory tract. If you allow your dog to swim in your pool, you will need to add more sanitizer than usual.

Rinse

It’s a good idea to rinse your dog after they’ve been swimming in your pool. Just like humans, the chemicals used to keep your pool clean can irritate your dog’s skin and eyes. After swimming, gently rinse your dog with clean, fresh water.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming at our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California. Our groomers can help keep your pet clean and comfortable this summer. Our services include bathing, brushing, and summer haircuts. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today.

 

 

Does Your Pet Need a Summer Haircut?

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Does Your Pet Need a Summer Haircut?

As we move further into summer, you’ve probably wondered if your pet needs a haircut. Most of us couldn’t imagine wearing a thick fur coat all summer long. However, your pet’s coat might actually be keeping them cool.

A pet’s coat works differently than the hair on our heads. Their fur is designed by nature to keep your pet warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By shaving your pet’s fur, you actually limit their natural ability to regulate their body temperature. This is especially true for cats.

Exceptionally Thick Coats

There are certain breeds of dog that are bred to have thicker fur than nature intended. If your dog appears to be suffering as temperatures rise, it might be a good idea to give them a haircut. Just make sure that you leave at least one inch of fur to protect them from sunburn. Also, if your pet is matted, it’s important to have the mats removed as soon as possible. Mats are painful and can lead to infection and other problems if not promptly removed.

Hot Spots and Skin Conditions

The other reason you might want to consider having your pet trimmed down in the summer is if they are prone to hot spots and other skin conditions. Removing the fur around hot spots enables easy application of medication. It also allows the air to reach sore skin, speeding up the healing process.

Make sure that you speak with your veterinarian before having your dog shaved if it has a skin condition. Sometimes, shaving the fur can irritate sores and make skin conditions worse.

Shorthaired Dogs

Shaving a shorthaired dog will not stop them from shedding. Instead, the fur they shed will be shorter, and act like little splinters; sticking into everything it comes in contact with, including your skin. Shaving a shorthaired dog also increases the chance of sunburn and skin irritation. A monthly bath and blow dry is typically all a shorthaired dog needs during the summer.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today.

 

 

 

Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

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Things to Consider Before Visiting the Dog Park

From socialization to exercise, your local dog park offers so much for your pet. This is the perfect spot to spend your days this summer. However, there are a few health risks you need to consider before visiting the dog park.

Infectious Diseases

Hundreds of dogs visit the dog park everyday. In areas like this, the risk of catching an infectious disease is often higher. Kennel cough and canine influenza are the most common diseases, and can spread through dog parks extremely fast.

It’s important to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on all of their vaccinations before visiting the dog park. Even though dogs may still be able to catch diseases they’ve been vaccinated for, vaccinated pets often experience less severe symptoms.

Avoid sharing bowls at the dog park, as this can increase the likelihood of your dog catching a disease. Instead, bring your own collapsible dish. It’s also important to clean up after your pet. This helps reduce the spread of intestinal parasites.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas can be easily passed from one dog to the next. You’ll need to protect your dog before visiting the dog park. There are several different flea treatments available today. Your veterinarian can provide you with recommendations.

Check your pet for ticks after leaving the dog park or any other grassy or wooded area. If you find a tick, don’t attempt to remove it yourself. Improper removal can cause the head to break off inside your pet. This can lead to infection. Take your pet to your vet or groomer for tick removal.

Heatstroke

Anytime you take your dog outside during the summer, you run the risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious condition, requiring immediate medical intervention. Without prompt treatment, heatstroke can be deadly.

Make sure you have plenty of cool, fresh water available for your pet, and that you encourage them to spend some time in the shade. If you notice anything odd about your pet’s behavior, remove them from the sun immediately.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming from our full service grooming salon in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment for your pet.

 

Dealing With Foxtails

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Dealing With Foxtails

The warm weather has officially arrived in Southern California. This means more beach days, more backyard BBQs, and more time spent outdoors. This is also the time of year when foxtails become a problem.

Foxtails are barbed seedpods that form on a special type of grass. As these pods dry, they can easily become stuck to your pet’s fur. Once attached, they burrow their way into the skin. This can be a major problem, as foxtails do not break down inside the skin. When left untreated, foxtails can cause serious infection and even death.

Although foxtails can be a problem on any part of the body, they are more likely to occur between the toes and inside the nose, ears, and mouth. Signs of embedded foxtails include redness, swelling, discharge, and pain.

Spotting Foxtails

It’s important to know how to spot the signs of a problem. If your pet is exeriencing any of the following, you should take them to your veterinarian right away:

  • Swelling and/or redness
  • Limping
  • Excessive licking between the toes or around the genital area
  • Head shaking
  • Head tilting
  • Squinting or redness of the eye
  • Pawing at the face
  • Constant sneezing

Preventing Foxtails

Pets with curly hair and long ears are at the greatest risk for foxtails. After spending time outdoors, it’s important to inspect your pet thoroughly. Check their feet, in their ears, and through their fur. If not embedded, foxtails can easily be removed. However, once they have entered the skin, you will need the help of an experienced veterinarian to remove them.

Foxtail removal can cost $700 or more. It’s best to prevent a problem in the first place. Avoid areas with long grass. Check your pet regularly after spending time outdoors. Keep long hair trimmed to prevent foxtails from becoming stuck. This also makes it easier to locate and remove them.

Claws N Paws Days Spa can help keep your pet groomed this summer. We have experience working with cats, dogs, and other pets. We are your best choice for pet grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment.